Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook [Hardcover]

Debra M. Eldredge DVM (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2007

The classic bestseller—expanded and updated

The guide dog lovers have relied on for more than twenty-seven years, this handbook has been extensively revised to include the latest information on everything from canine healthcare to nutrition to holistic treatments. Dog Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook, Fourth Edition, is the definitive guide for every dog owner. It puts vital information at your fingertips, with:

• An index of signs and symptoms to help you find information fast

• Clearly written, step-by-step directions for handling common canine ailments and problems

• A chapter on emergencies that explains what to do immediately for shock, broken bones, burns, dehydration, heat stroke, poisoning, insect stings and bites, wounds, and more

• Hundreds of photos and drawings that illustrate what to look for and what to do to provide the best care for your dog

• A glossary of terms

With this guide, you'll know when to rush your pet to the vet and when you can begin treatment at home. You'll communicate more effectively with your vet. You'll have the latest information on every aspect of your dog's medical care when you need it. This is the hands-on reference you'll trust again and again.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Open the front cover and the first two pages you see contain the Index of Signs and Symptoms, from Abdomen (painful, swollen, distended, and tucked up) to Weight loss, Wheezing, and Whining (continual). There's a comprehensive index in back, of course, running the gamut from Abortion to Zinc-Responsive Dermatosis, which is all very useful, but when your pooch is in pain, it's great to be able to turn, with the minimum of folderol, to the page that says to relax, it's nothing a bit of extra grooming won't fix, or alternatively to hightail it over to the vet hospital. It's a wonderful reference for any dog owner, with chapters on emergencies (such as burns, dehydration, and poisoning), as well as worms, infectious diseases, skin care, and canine eyes, ears, and nose. There are chapters on the digestive, respiratory, and circulatory systems, the nervous, musculoskeletal, and urinary systems, plus dog sex, whelping, puppy pediatrics, geriatrics, and chapters on cancers and medications. In short, it covers every health dimension a dog owner might want to know more about, identifies the possible causes, helps you determine the severity of the condition, and indicates what treatments or actions to take to best insure your dog's good health. --Stephanie Gold --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

Praise for the previous edition:

"A MUST for any dog owner!"
—The American Field

"Useful for any dog owner, indispensable for kennel owners?. Offers comprehensive, up-to-date, well-organized information on every phase of health care for dogs."
—Publishers Weekly

This easy-to-use, authoritative guide provides the information you need to care for your dog at all ages and stages, from pediatric to geriatric. This fully revised and updated Fourth Edition covers common canine problems and ailments in language you can understand. It includes current information on:

• Treatments for cancer and kidney disease

• Raw diets

• Canine influenza

• Vaccine protocols

• Flea, tick, and heartworm preventives

• Drugs and surgical techniques

• Supplements and nutraceuticals

• Arthritis medications and supplements

• Holistic treatments

• The canine senses

• Possible organic causes of behavior problems

• Breed predispositions for specific genetic conditions

• Genetic testing for specific diseases

• Cognitive dysfunction in senior dogs

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 656 pages
• Publisher: Howell Book House; Fourth Edition edition (August 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470067853
• ISBN-13: 978-0470067857
• Product Dimensions: 6.4 x 1.7 x 9.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (165 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,224 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #5 in Books > Medical Books > Veterinary Medicine
  • #10 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > Pets & Animal Care > Dogs > Breeds

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

159 of 161 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars This book isn't a purchase, it's an investment June 19, 2000

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

I have been meaning to write a review for this book for quite awhile, but when I found myself turning to it (yet again) last week after receiving a difficult diagnosis for my beloved geriatric dog, I thought it was time to sit down and express my appreciation for this book.

I am not fond of reviews that insist I "must! " have this or that, so please forgive me if I sound strident in my insistence that this really "should! " be in the possession of everyone who has a dog to care for. Here lies information that can help you out of the trenches and decide when you should wake up your vet in the middle of the night, when to wait till morning, and when to try handling things yourself. This is also the place where I learned how to monitor my pets vitals so I can get an idea of what may be going on and to provide my vet with some of the information needed to hit the ground running. Out of the several pet care books I have (Pitcairn's being one of them) THIS is the book that I grab first and it's the one my neighbors come over to examine when thier dog seems "off" and the one my family calls and asks me to read parts of over the phone (I will share this book, but I won't loan it). I wish they'd all get thier own copy, but at least one of us has it on hand.

As someone who has four large, geriatric dogs I love dearly, I wouldn't be without this book. Plenty of other books are going to provide you with glossy color photos and generic information, but when you need information--real, solid stuff you can leave teethmarks in, this book is what you need. General care and functioning is covered very well, but this volume really shines when things seem serious, even scary and it fleshes out those pre- and post-vet questions like no other.

PS--Pitcairn's book, which I mentioned in passing, is a nice general resource that is especially helpful for those interested in learning about feeding thier pets natural, whole-food diets. I like my copy quite a bit, but I can best describe it by saying I'll loan that book to a friend for a week or so, not so with Home Veterinary Handbook.

47 of 48 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A money-saver for the conscientious dog owner January 7, 1998

By A Customer

Format:Hardcover

One of the most difficult tasks for the loving dog owner is deciding when a malady needs a vet's attention. This book helps to make this task easier. As a multiple big dog owner, I can't afford to run to the vet every time one of my dogs is not feeling his or her best. This book allows me to research a malady to help make the important decision: does my dog need to see a vet? This saves me money and gives me peace of mind. It also gives me the information I need to have an educated conversation with my vet about treatments, when and if they are necessary. It's like having an assistant on call 24 x 7.

53 of 56 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars If you own dogs, you should own this book! December 23, 1999

By Mary Jo Sminkey TOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Hardcover

This is by far the best health care guide for dogs. From the quick index of symptoms on the inside cover, to the great coverage of many diseases and disorders in canines, this is a well-written and easy to understand book, that goes beyond the basics most dog care books give you, without becoming too technical. My vet actually kept one on hand in his office for quick reference.